Take Joy

About the Book Are you a writer longing to rediscover the joy that you once had in the craft (or even find it for the first time)? In this inspiring guide, Jane Yolen, an author who has been called America’s Hans Christian Andersen, shows writers how to focus on aspects of the craft that bring them joy.

She remarks in the first chapter, “Save the blood and pain for real life, where tourniquets and ibuprofen can have some chance of helping. Do not be afraid to grab hold of the experience with both hands and take joy.”

Addressing topics all writers struggle with, Yolen discusses the writer’s voice, beginnings and endings, dealing with rejection, the technical aspects of writing, and the process of coming up with an idea—and deals with each of them in a way that focuses on the positive and eliminates the negative.

As Yolen says, “Be prepared as you write to be surprised by your own writing, surprised by what you find out about yourself and about your world. Be ready for the happy accident.”

Get ready to take joy in your writing once again.

About the Author Jane Yolen has been called America’s Hans Christian Andersen (Newsweek) and a modern-day Aesop (The New York Times). Her books and stories have won many awards, including the Caldecott Medal (for Owl Moon, and an Honor Award for The Emperor and the Kite), the Nebula Award, the Christopher Medal, the World Fantasy Award, the Mythopoeic Society’s Aslan Award, the Golden Kit Award, the Jewish Book Award, and many other honors. Her books and stories have been translated into fourteen languages, including Japanese, Chinese, Afrikaans, and !Xhosa.

She has also written and edited collections of poetry, short stories, and books on folklore, storytelling, and children’s literature, including Touch Magic and The Guide to Writing Books for Children.